The
village of Werowocomoco was the residence of the Virginia Algonquin chief
Powhatan and the political center of the Powhatan chiefdom during the
early 1600s. The Werowocomoco Research Group is studying the history and
physical remains of the site.

IT'S
HERE!!!!!! -

TEACHER'S
AND KID'S PAGES

These
downloadable resources are specifically designed for teachers
and students. You can find them on our Resources
pages. We have sample lesson plans, posters, and instructional
guides. For more information contact Danielle Moretti-Langholtz
(dmoret@wm.edu)
for details.

Werowocomoco
NRHP -
The Werowocomoco archaeological site is now listed on the National
Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Historic Landmarks
Register. Download a copy of the nomination by visiting our
downloads page.

2003
Research Report -
The official report on the 2003 excavations at Werowocomoco
is now available in downloadable .pdf. The report summarizes
the 2001 shovel test survey as well as the 2003 College of William
and Mary fieldschool.

The College of William
and Mary

Virginia Department of Historic
Resources

With Special Appreciation to Virginia's
Eight State-Recognized Tribes and the Virginia Council on Indians

Support for this project has been provided
by a Collaborative Research Grant from the National Endowment
for the Humanities

Talking
with Lynn Ripley...
Lynn and Bob Ripley own the site of Werowocomoco. They have
graciously opened their property for archaeologists and the
Virginia Indian community to conduct research and learn more
about this important site. The husband and wife team are intricately
involved with every aspect of the work at Werowocomoco. Listen
to Lynn Ripley as she describes how she became interested
in archaeology: Lynn
Ripley

Recent
Findings -
Analysis of the charcoal samples from two features sampled
at Werowocomoco during the 2003 field season indicates that
significant landscape change was taking place prior to contact
with English settlers. The excavation analysis and Carbon
14 data indicate that two parallel ditches appear to be Native
landscape features dating from the first half of the 15th
century (AD 1400 - 1460). This raises the possibility that
the ditches played a role in defining / reflecting the village's
importance well before Powhatan's arrival on the scene (indeed,
prior to his birth).

Other
news...
The public outreach component of this project began on February
15, 2003 when the Werowocomoco Research Group (WRG) presented
a project proposal to representatives of Virginia's state-recognized
tribes and the Virginia Council on Indians. Together with the
property owners, the WRG hosted community's representatives
at the site, allowing them to see the location first-hand. During
these meetings we invited the Native community to join us as
partners in planning the site's investigation. Representatives
from the Pamunkey, Upper Mattaponi, Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy,
Nansemond, Rappahannock, and Monacan tribes attended the meetings.
At our suggestion, representatives from these communities assembled
an all-Native advisory board to guide WRG efforts.